Personality Clash?

[CatDoctor]

I'm planning on introducing 6 Isa Brown pullets into my flock of 10 GLW hens. Does anyone know if these breeds will be compatible?
Thanks in advance.

 

[sourland]

There will be fighting upon introduction because that's the way the pecking order works. No reason they can't get along once things even out.

 

[aart]

Breed doesn't really matter, it's all about territory and resources.
The more space you have the easier it will go.

Here's my take on....
Integration Basics:
It's all about territory and resources(space/food/water).
Existing birds will almost always attack new ones to defend their resources.
Understanding chicken behaviors is essential to integrating new birds into your flock.

Confine new birds within sight but physically segregated from older/existing birds for several weeks, so they can see and get used to each other but not physically interact.

In adjacent runs, spread scratch grains along the dividing mesh, best if mesh is just big enough for birds to stick their head thru, so they get used to eating together.

The more space, the better. Birds will peck to establish dominance, the pecked bird needs space to get away. As long as there's no copious blood drawn and/or new bird is not trapped/pinned down and beaten unmercilessly, let them work it out. Every time you interfere or remove new birds, they'll have to start the pecking order thing all over again.

Multiple feed/water stations. Dominance issues are most often carried out over sustenance, more stations lessens the frequency of that issue.

Places for the new birds to hide 'out of line of sight'(but not a dead end trap) and/or up and away from any bully birds. Roosts, pallets or boards leaned up against walls or up on concrete blocks, old chairs tables, branches, logs, stumps out in the run can really help. Lots of diversion and places to 'hide' instead of bare wide open run.
Good ideas for hiding places:
https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/a-cluttered-run.1323792/

 

[Ridgerunner]

As far as I'm concerned they should be as compatible as adding six GLW pullets the same age as those ISA Browns and using the same techniques. Does that mean you will not have issues? No. Does that mean you will have issues? No. You still have to go through integration, sometimes that is so smooth you wonder what all the worry was about, sometimes it is a real mess. But compatibility will be between individuals with their individual personalities, not because of breed.

I like to give examples. I have integrated different breeds to my flock several times and it has gone pretty much the same, no major issues. When integration is over they are one big happy flock. But one time I had 18 red sex link cockerels I was raising to butcher. When they hit about 15 weeks one cockerel hated another specific cockerel enough to kill him. Just out of the blue he started attacking that one cockerel with full intent to kill and he killed him. I failed to react in time. But there were no issues with him and any of the other 16 cockerels. The same mix of breeds, raised together so no integration involved at all, yet there was something about their personalities that caused one to die.

From what I've seen breed is not important in compatibility. Individual personality is. That can be between chickens of different breeds or chickens of the same breeds. Those six ISA Browns have as good a chance of fitting in as any other chickens would.

Good luck and let us know how it goes.

 

[CatDoctor]

Will do! Thanks to all for your time and advice.
Cheep Cheep!